Around this time every year, Google releases a geeky recap, determined by what people have been googling. They’ve been capturing this “zeitgeist” — loosely translated as the spirit of the times — since 2001, and by now have gotten pretty good at it.
Looking back at the year through Google’s lens, the search patterns of billions of people across the world, we can see the defining moments of 2013, and even though it just happened, the passing of world-beloved Nelson Mandela sits firmly atop the list of search trends.
Also in the top ten list of global trending searches are Paul Walker, iPhone 5s, Harlem Shake, Royal Baby and more.
Looking through the one minute and thirty second Zeitgeist trailer, I also spied the Mars Rover, Daft Punk, the Boston Marathon, Malala, the inspiring SF Batkid, and others, woven together in an upbeat, emotion-evoking montage.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv-sY_z8MNs?rel=0]
Google’s annual Zeitgeist is a great way to revisit the most momentous events of 2013 and reflect on how they might shape the coming year, as well as those to come. What other 2013 highlights did you recognise? Visit the Google Zeitgeist page to see the full gallery of the top hundred search trends for the year.
